Port of Sydney Cape Breton, Water Bird Surveys, Nova Scotia, Canada (2024)

From spring to winter 2024, point count waterbird surveys are being conducted at 14 sites across The Port of Sydney Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. This effort will continue through 2026. These surveys take place seasonally, focusing on select times in the fall, spring, summer, and winter. During each survey, data is collected on species identification, the number of individuals present, general behaviour such as resting, feeding, or flying, disturbances, and the birds' general location relative to the shore, categorized as inshore, nearshore, or offshore. Site-specific environmental conditions are also recorded, including weather variables like precipitation, wind, and cloud cover, as well as tidal state and movement, sea state, visibility, glare, and human activity at the sites. These surveys are part of the Coastal Environmental Baseline Program under the Oceans Protection Plan, managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. With increased ship traffic and oil facilities, particularly in areas like Halifax Harbour and the Port of Sydney, waterbirds face significant risks, particularly from oil spills. The Migratory Birds Regulations prohibit harm to migratory birds in Canada, yet the threats from coastal industrial activity persist. This project aims to better understand where waterbirds are and when they are present in these harbours, helping improve protection measures during environmental incidents such as oil spills.